Overview

Adenia spinosa is a plant with a climbing vine, caudiciform habit in the genus Adenia, part of the Passifloraceae family, with deciduous foliage. Adenia spinosa grows best in full sun, and tolerates loam soils and neutral pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H1b. Suggested uses include container planting and indoor cultivation. It is native to Botswana, Northern Provinces and Zimbabwe.

About

Adenia spinosa is a climbing vine with a caudiciform stem and deciduous leaves. It flowers from July to September. It favours full sun in loamy, neutral, well-drained soil and a sheltered, south-facing position. Treated as tender (H1b) in the UK, it is typically grown in containers or kept indoors over winter.

About the genus

Adenia is a genus of flowering plants in the passionflower family Passifloraceae. It contains about 100 species distributed in the Old World tropics and subtropics. The centers of diversity are in Madagascar, eastern and western tropical Africa, and Southeast Asia.

Wikipedia contributors, "Adenia", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Adenia

In the garden

Adenia spinosa (Passifloraceae) is a climbing vine with a caudiciform stem and seasonal leaf loss; it originates from Botswana, the Northern Provinces and Zimbabwe. As a member of the Adenia genus it sits within the passionflower family but is handled differently in cultivation because of its swollen stem and climbing habit. Place Adenia spinosa where it receives full sun, ideally in a south-facing, sheltered spot. It prefers loam that is neutral in reaction and must be kept in a freely draining medium; a loam-based potting mix with assured drainage suits container culture. Classified H1b, it is tender in UK terms and should be overwintered under glass or brought indoors to avoid frost. Container planting and indoor cultivation are the most practical uses in the UK given its winter needs and climbing habit. It flowers between July and September, offering seasonal interest while grown on a short support or trained along a frame. The caudiciform stem provides a structural focal point, so display the plant where the swollen trunk can be clearly seen rather than hidden at ground level.

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Adenia

Sunlight

Full sun

Soil type

Loam

Soil pH

Neutral

Soil moisture

Well-drained

Aspect

South-facing

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness

H1b

Plant details

Adenia spinosa size, habit and characteristics

Habit

Climbing vine, Caudiciform

Foliage

Deciduous

Suggested uses

Container planting, Indoor cultivation

Native to

Botswana, Northern Provinces, Zimbabwe

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Adenia spinosa

Propagation

Seed, Stem cuttings

Pest resistance

Generally pest-free

Disease resistance

Generally disease-free

Frequently asked questions